Flint 16-year-old arraigned on second-degree murder charge in New Year Day death

Shukur Brown, 16, hugs his mother and father, Terry Jerome Brown, left, and Sabrina Bartee, right, during a press conference Thursday, Jan. 3. Shukur Brown and his family came forward in a press conference to discuss the need to put weapons down and that gun violence needs to cease. Brown has turned himself in to Flint police in connection to what he says was an accidental shooting of Gianni Herron, 15, on New Year's Day.Lauren Justice | MLive.com

FLINT, MI -- The 16-year-old who is accused of shooting his best friend in the chest in the early morning hours of New Year Day was arraigned Wednesday, Jan. 9, in Flint District Court on four felony charges in connection with the shooting.

Shakur J. Brown kept his head down and had to be asked to speak up numerous times during the 15-minute arraignment before Judge Herman Marable.

Brown is accused of shooting 15-year-old Gianni Herron in the chest while the two were in the basement at 1717 N. Chevrolet Ave. Herron later died.

Brown told Marable he had been expelled from Flint Northern High School in the fall.

Marable denied bail and ordered that Brown be lodged in a juvenile detention center until his Jan. 17 preliminary exam.

Brown is charged with second-degree murder, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a short-barreled shotgun and felony firearm.

Police told Marable Tuesday in a probable cause hearing that Brown admitted to shooting Herron and that he had placed packages of marijuana around the Christmas tree of the North Chevrolet Avenue home.